Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Atlanta, GA
VS
Baltimore, MD
🏆 Atlanta leads 14 of 23 categories
Atlanta
Georgia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,655 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
221⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
494,838
Baltimore
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,349
Violent Crime Index
423⚠ High
Population
584,548 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Atlanta, GA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Baltimore
Households earn $19,306 more per year on average
More college-educated — 57.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 44°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $395,600
Violent crime (840.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,512/mo
Property crime (3748.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Baltimore, MD
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($202,900 vs $395,600)
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,512)
Cons
Violent crime (1606.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Atlanta by $19,306/yr
Property crime (4157.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Atlanta
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.7 (100 = US avg)
Atlanta
Median Income
$19,306
$77,655 vs $58,349/yr
Atlanta
Violent Crime
48% lower
840.6 vs 1606.2 per 100k
Atlanta
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.9% unemployment
Baltimore
Median Home Value
$193k less
$202,900 vs $395,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Atlanta, GA | Baltimore, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 102.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $395,600⚠ High | $202,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,512⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,655 ✓ Higher | $58,349 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 13.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 333⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer | 423⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.3% ✓ Higher | 34.9% |
| High School or Higher | 92.9% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Atlanta Public Schools | Baltimore City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 53.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.0°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" | 43.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" ✓ Less | 19.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 494,838 | 584,548 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 36.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.7% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.2% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Atlanta's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Baltimore's 102.7 (US average = 100).
Atlanta is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Atlanta leads 14 of 23 categories. Atlanta wins 14 and Baltimore wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Atlanta to Baltimore or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($395,600 vs $202,900 median home), income ($77,655 vs $58,349), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Atlanta, GA and Baltimore, MD are about 578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.